20 Things All Florida Baby Boomers Had Growing Up
If you were a Floridian kid in the ’50s or early ’60s, you know how different things used to be. You drank from the garden hose, watched black-and-white TV with rabbit ears, and thought a plastic prize in a cereal box was better than gold.
Baby boomers didn’t need much to have fun—just some chalk, a Slinky, and maybe a few buddies on the block.
Let’s rewind the clock and remember the stuff that made baby boomer childhoods in Florida so unforgettable.
Metal Lunchboxes
Back when the school cafeteria still served sloppy joes and milk in little glass bottles, kids brought their lunches from home in sturdy metal lunchboxes. These weren’t just for holding peanut butter and jelly sandwiches—they were status symbols.
The coolest kids had lunchboxes featuring Davy Crockett, The Lone Ranger, or The Flintstones, complete with a glass-lined Thermos that smelled like soup even after washing.
There was something special about clicking that metal latch open and peeling back the wax paper on a sandwich your mom packed that morning.
If the Thermos hadn’t shattered on the school bus ride, you were lucky. That little cup lid on top twisted off just right, and even if the drink was lukewarm, it still felt fancy.
Boomers still remember the satisfying clang those lunchboxes made when dropped in a pile outside the classroom. And even though plastic ones came later, nothing beat the old metal kind with the scuffed corners.
Record Players Spinning Elvis and The Supremes
Before MP3s, CDs, or even cassette tapes, music lived on vinyl—and every baby boomer knew the joy of dropping the needle on a spinning 45.
In bedrooms across America, record players sat on low dressers, surrounded by stacks of songs from the likes of Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Patsy Cline.
Kids would save their allowance to buy the newest single, maybe “I Want to Hold Your Hand” or “Stop! In the Name of Love,” and play it over and over until the grooves wore thin.
You could set a stack of records on the spindle and let them drop down one by one, the player automatically shifting the needle into place like magic.
Teenagers would dance in socks on linoleum floors or lie on the carpet with the speakers turned up just enough to annoy their parents.
And who could forget reading every word printed on the paper sleeve, memorizing the lyrics?
One TV Set With Rabbit Ears and Only Three Channels
In the typical boomer household, there was one TV—and it sat like a piece of furniture in the living room. These sets had thick wooden cabinets, rounded screens, and big silver dials that clicked when turned.
Getting a new TV, especially a color one, was a family milestone, almost as exciting as getting a second bathroom.
Reception was tricky business. Kids took turns adjusting the rabbit ears on top, trying to make the picture less fuzzy.
Sometimes aluminum foil got added for “extra power,” and sometimes a sibling had to stand just so holding one antenna like a human satellite. Getting ABC, NBC, and CBS to come in clearly was a true skill.
Families gathered to watch The Ed Sullivan Show, Bonanza, and Leave It to Beaver together.
And if you missed your favorite program, you missed it—there were no reruns, no streaming, and certainly no DVR.
Roller Skates That Clamped Onto Shoes With a Key
For baby boomers, owning a pair of metal roller skates was like having a ticket to freedom.
These skates weren’t like the sleek ones at modern roller rinks. They were adjustable metal frames with clunky wheels that clamped right onto your regular shoes—and you needed a special key to tighten them.
Kids often wore the skate key around their necks with a string or shoelace.
Once the skates were strapped on tight, it was off to the sidewalk or driveway, arms flailing, knees bent, and the loud clack-clack of metal wheels echoing down the block.
Every fall left behind a badge of honor—a scabbed knee or elbow—and every boomer knew the pain of hitting a pebble mid-skate and flying face-first into the grass.
But the freedom was worth it, especially when cruising to a friend’s house or around the neighborhood until the streetlights came on.
Slinky, Jacks, and Toys That Didn’t Need Batteries
Forget touchscreens and USB chargers. Baby boomers played with toys that came alive through imagination.
The Slinky was just a metal spring, but it could “walk” down stairs in the most hypnotic way. If it got tangled, you tried to fix it yourself, though it never quite moved the same afterward.
Girls carried sets of jacks in their pockets, tossing that little red ball and grabbing as many as possible before it bounced again.
Boys collected marbles—cat’s eyes, steelies, and aggies—and played for keeps in chalk-drawn rings on the sidewalk.
Other staples included Lincoln Logs, View-Masters, and Etch A Sketches. There was the Magic 8 Ball for life’s biggest decisions and Silly Putty for copying the funny pages from the Sunday newspaper.
These toys didn’t beep, light up, or talk—but they brought hours of fun.
Bikes With Banana Seats, Streamers, and No Helmets in Sight
For boomers, a bike wasn’t just transportation—it was freedom. The coolest rides had long banana seats, tall sissy bars, and wide handlebars.
Add a set of plastic streamers on the grips and maybe a playing card clipped to the spokes for sound effects, and you were ready to rule the road.
Bikes like the Schwinn Sting-Ray were the stuff of legends. You could pop wheelies, race down hills, or coast around the block with a bag of penny candy from the corner store.
Kids rode for miles without helmets, water bottles, or GPS tracking—just a sense of adventure and a good pair of sneakers.
Parents only asked that you be home by dinner, and somehow, you always made it. If your chain popped off mid-ride, you flipped your bike over and fixed it yourself, wiping your greasy hands on your shorts before riding off again.
Chalkboards and Dusty Erasers in Every Classroom
Boomer school days were filled with the sound of chalk scraping on green or black boards. Teachers wrote long math problems, spelling words, or cursive letters in looping strokes.
If you got in trouble—or were lucky—you might get picked to clean the erasers outside.
Clapping erasers was a dusty, messy job, but it got you out of class for a few glorious minutes. The smell of chalk dust clung to your fingers..
Desks were in tidy rows, and you sharpened pencils by hand in a wall-mounted sharpener that made a grinding roar.
Kids learned from textbooks with yellowed pages, and there was always a giant globe somewhere in the corner, just waiting to be spun during recess.
Hand-Sewn Clothes and Matching Family Outfits
Back in the ’50s, department store trips were rare and expensive. Many baby boomers wore clothes made lovingly at home by moms, grandmas, or even big sisters.
A brand-new dress often came from a Butterick pattern and a few yards of fabric from the local five-and-dime.
Sundresses with puffed sleeves, corduroy overalls, and hand-knit sweaters were common sights. Family portraits sometimes featured matching outfits sewn from the same bolt of fabric—Mom, Dad, and the kids all in plaid or polka dots.
Hand-me-downs were expected, not avoided.
If your older brother outgrew a pair of jeans, you were next in line—maybe with a few patches on the knees. And on Sundays, kids got dressed up for church in shiny shoes and clothes that had been ironed the night before.
Saturday Morning Cartoons and Sugary Cereal
The best part of the week in the ’50s and ’60s? Saturday morning.
Baby boomers woke up early, walked into the kitchen in footie pajamas, and poured themselves a towering bowl of cereal—usually Trix, Sugar Smacks, or Frosted Flakes.
Then it was straight to the TV for hours of pure cartoon gold: Yogi Bear, Top Cat, The Jetsons, and The Bugs Bunny Show.
There were no streaming services or YouTube playlists—just a few hours of animated joy before the grown-ups took over the TV.
Commercials were almost as fun as the shows, advertising toys you circled in the Sears catalog later. And if your cereal box had a prize inside, like a decoder ring or a plastic submarine, your day was officially made.
Encyclopedias Lining the Bookshelf at Home
Before Google, every answer came from the family encyclopedia set. These massive hardcover volumes, often from World Book or Britannica, lined the den or living room bookshelf like they were sacred texts.
Some families even bought them from door-to-door salesmen, paying in monthly installments.
If you had to do a report on Abraham Lincoln or volcanoes, you pulled out the right volume, flipped to the entry, and hoped it had a picture you could trace.
Every set came with an index book, and if you were really lucky, you had the Yearbook updates that kept the info fresh.
Those encyclopedias weren’t just for homework. Curious kids read them for fun, letting one entry lead to another until they’d somehow read everything from “astronomy” to “zebras.”
Drive-In Movie Nights Under the Stars
There was something magical about piling into the family car and heading to the local drive-in theater on a warm summer evening. You’d wear your pajamas, bring blankets and lawn chairs, and settle in for a double feature under the stars.
Kids sat on the hood of the car, eating popcorn from a giant paper tub while bugs buzzed around the flickering screen.
The clunky metal speaker hung on your window, and if you were lucky, it actually worked. Later on, the audio came through your car radio, but those early speakers crackled in a way that made everything feel more exciting.
Parents would sip coffee from a Thermos while the kids giggled through cartoons before the main feature.
Sometimes you didn’t even care what was playing—The Blob, Swiss Family Robinson, or Beach Blanket Bingo—it was all about the experience.
Penny Candy From the Corner Store
A nickel could take you far in the 1950s, and baby boomers knew exactly where to spend it—the corner store with rows of glass jars filled with sweet treasures.
Red licorice whips, candy buttons stuck to paper, and root beer barrels were just a few favorites. You could get five or ten treats for a single shiny penny.
Kids would ride their bikes to the store with jingling coins in their pockets, agonizing over which sugary gems to choose. Would it be Pixy Stix or those wax lips that made you feel like a rebel?
Some kids filled tiny brown paper sacks with jawbreakers and Mary Janes until the top barely closed.
The shopkeeper knew everyone by name and often gave a little extra just because. It wasn’t just candy—it was a ritual, a rite of passage, and a memory tied to freedom and fun that baby boomers still cherish.
Hopscotch and Jump Rope on the Sidewalk
Before video games, kids played outside—and stayed outside—until the streetlights flickered on.
Hopscotch squares were drawn with sidewalk chalk, and jump ropes slapped the pavement as kids chanted rhymes like “Cinderella, dressed in yellow…”
Kids played barefoot, with sunburned shoulders and knees covered in Band-Aids.
Hopscotch taught balance, timing, and which friend had the best aim with a rock. Jump rope games were just as much about coordination as they were about laughter. Double Dutch was a neighborhood event, and if you could jump in without tripping, you were officially a legend.
Girls and boys took turns jumping, spinning ropes, and calling out rhymes while transistor radios played music from a porch nearby.
It was simple fun, but it built friendships, burned energy, and made unforgettable memories for a generation that truly lived outdoors.
Sunday Dinners With Jell-O Molds and Pot Roast
Sunday dinner wasn’t just a meal—it was a weekly event.
Moms, aunts, and grandmas would spend hours in the kitchen while the smell of pot roast, meatloaf, or baked ham drifted through the house. Green beans simmered with bacon, mashed potatoes were whipped by hand, and everything was made from scratch.
One thing you’d always find on the table?
A colorful Jell-O mold.
Sometimes it had fruit suspended inside. Other times, there were strange experiments with carrots or cottage cheese. It didn’t matter what it looked like—it was part of the tradition, and every boomer expected it.
Families gathered around the table, heads bowed for prayer, and passed food in big bowls.
You didn’t text during dinner. You talked, listened, and maybe argued about who got the last dinner roll. Those meals created strong family bonds.
Tinker Toys, Erector Sets, and Building Things by Hand
Before kids were glued to screens, they were busy building. Baby boomers spent rainy afternoons with Tinker Toys and Erector Sets, using wooden pegs, sticks, and little metal bolts to create towers, cars, or whatever their imagination dreamed up.
These toys didn’t come with instructions—you just figured it out as you went.
Erector Sets came with tiny screws, nuts, and even motors, so you could make moving machines. They felt grown-up and technical, like something a real engineer might use.
Parents loved these toys because they taught kids how to problem-solve and follow through on a project.
Every boomer remembers digging through the tin can full of leftover parts, finding the perfect piece, and proudly showing off their latest invention. There was no “app” for creativity—just your hands, your brain, and maybe a few Band-Aids from pinching your fingers.
Ice Cream Trucks With Jingling Music
On hot afternoons, kids in the 1950s and 1960s would freeze mid-play when they heard the faint sound of tinny music drifting down the street.
“The Entertainer” or “Turkey in the Straw” meant one thing: the ice cream truck was coming. A wave of kids would sprint toward the curb with quarters in hand, yelling, “Wait! Don’t drive past!”
The truck’s side panel flipped up, revealing a chilly wonderland of creamsicles, Drumsticks, and bomb pops that stained your lips bright red or blue.
If you had enough change, maybe you’d splurge on a cartoon-shaped treat with gumball eyes. Half the time, the gumballs were rock-hard, but no one cared.
Even just standing in line, barefoot on the hot pavement, made the moment feel special.
The ice cream truck wasn’t just a dessert delivery—it was an event, a sweet break in the middle of a long summer day that every boomer remembers fondly.
Paper Dolls and Comic Books
When it came to quiet-time entertainment, baby boomers had two trusty favorites: paper dolls and comic books.
Girls would cut out Betsy McCall or Barbie paper dolls from magazine pages and carefully fold the tabs on paper dresses to create outfits for every occasion.
Boys traded comic books like baseball cards. Superman, Archie, Richie Rich, and Casper the Friendly Ghost filled their imaginations with wild adventures and colorful characters. A dime could get you the latest issue from the spinner rack at the drugstore.
These weren’t just throwaway items—they were prized collections.
Paper dolls were stored in shoeboxes, and comic books were stacked in tidy piles or hidden under beds. Many boomers wish they’d held onto them now, especially the ones that are worth hundreds of dollars today.
Kiddie Pools and Running Through Sprinklers
Not every family could afford a trip to the beach or a neighborhood pool. So baby boomers made their own fun in the backyard.
A plastic kiddie pool filled with icy hose water could keep a whole crew entertained for hours. And if you didn’t have one, the sprinkler did just fine.
There was something hilarious about jumping over the spray or trying to run through without getting soaked—though everyone always did.
Some families had the fancy rotating kind that sprayed in circles. Others had the basic sprinkler head that sprayed in one straight line, and kids just ran back and forth, squealing with delight.
The grass turned muddy, the water made you gasp, and every splash led to more laughter. Summer fun didn’t require a vacation—just a garden hose and a hot afternoon.
Little Golden Books and Bedtime Stories
When it was time to wind down, boomers reached for a book—specifically, one with a shiny gold spine. Little Golden Books were a childhood staple.
With titles like The Poky Little Puppy, Scuffy the Tugboat, and Tootle, these books lived on bookshelves, bedside tables, and even in the car for road trips.
Parents read them aloud at bedtime, using funny voices for the characters. Some kids knew the stories so well, they could “read” them before they actually learned how.
The pictures were colorful, the lessons gentle, and the pages well-worn from years of turning.
For many boomers, those books were their first introduction to reading. And when they had kids of their own, they searched for the very same titles to share the magic all over again.
Mail-Order Toys From Cereal Box Offers
Nothing felt more exciting than cutting out a cereal box coupon, stuffing it in an envelope with a few quarters, and mailing it off for a toy.
Baby boomers had to wait six to eight weeks, checking the mailbox every day with growing anticipation. But when it finally arrived—it was pure joy.
Some of the best toys came this way: submarine toys that really moved in water with baking soda, secret spy rings, plastic monkeys that climbed strings, or decoder wheels to unlock hidden messages.
The packaging was often more exciting than the toy, but that didn’t matter one bit.
Cereal companies knew how to grab kids’ attention. Boxtops, coupons, and surprise toys kept you coming back for more bowls of Cheerios or Frosted Flakes.
And even if the prize was tiny and made of cheap plastic, it felt like it had been sent straight from a magical toy factory just for you.
25 Things From the Past We Took for Granted
Do our modern gadgets truly simplify our lives, or do they add unnecessary complexity? These are the things about the old days that Americans long to have back.
25 Things From the Past We Took for Granted. Now We Want Them Back
24 Old-Fashioned Candies That Need To Make a Comeback
From childhood classics to forgotten chocolates, these treats bring back memories of simpler times. Rediscover the joy of beloved confections that deserve to make a comeback.
